January 8, 2007 – Las Vegas, NV - Larry Pexton, Founder and President of Triad Speakers, Inc., proudly announced today that the company has launched a new Custom Division. Jim Laughlin, one of four Design Engineers, has accepted the new role of Custom Engineering Project Manager effective December 1, 2006.

Triad’s standard InWall, InCeiling and OnWall product line has long been known for providing high performance loudspeaker solutions for custom installation applications. Now, with the company’s new custom engineering division and associated program, the company has the ability to further modify existing products to fit specific spaces and even engineer a product solution from the “ground-up.” Triad also provides custom paint matching for a complete blend with the décor of a home.

Laughlin says, ”Triad’s custom engineering program enables our dealers to provide a great sounding, elegant looking loudspeaker solution in the most demanding of installations where standard products just won’t fit due to the construction or the room’s décor. While we have been taking on individual projects for years, we now have a dedicated team with program guidelines in place, along with new custom paint matching equipment - all of which enables us to provide this service in a more efficient and in many cases, cost effective manner.”

”For example, a dealer may face an installation obstacle such as HVAC ductwork situated directly behind an intended speaker location. We will create a solution for the dealer’s specific need, such as customizing a loudspeaker to actually fit around the ductwork without compromising any of the sound characteristics,” furthered Laughlin.

Triad will offer dealers four different levels of custom design solutions. They are:
· Level 1: Minor modification of product is the modification of a single dimensioned side, top or back.
· Level 2: Medium modification of product includes the modification of more than one of the dimensions, i.e. the back and one of the sides.
· Level 3: Major modification of product requires a major re-design of the product, including the crossover network and bracing. The production of this product would also require special handling in manufacturing and/or shipping.
· Level 4: Non-Standard, one-off product is any product that uses custom drivers, crossover components, and does not fall into the standard product line. This would entail an R&D cycle from the ground up.

As per the new program, Laughlin will assess the dealer’s need then develop a bid and lead-time. After acceptance of the bid, the product will be manufactured to Triad’s acoustic and aesthetic quality standards. The product will then be shipped to the dealer for installation. For custom paint matching, dealers and interior designers can send a paint sample that Triad will then custom-match using the very best paint, assuring a complete blend within the décor of the client’s home.

The company’s new paint program makes possible shipment of a custom paint-matched loudspeaker within just 5 working days and at no additional cost. To achieve this, Triad made a considerable financial investment in digital paint-matching hardware and is now stocking all necessary tints and base coats. Additionally, across the Bronze, Silver, and Gold LCR product lines, the company has replaced the cloth grilles with metal Acoustimesh grilles that can be painted.

The custom program is yet another example of Triad’s unique “lean manufacturing” process where workers build products fresh to order daily, ensuring the highest possible quality control. Workers are also engaged in new, innovative practices to improve production throughout the entire manufacturing process including the reduction of waste materials. Triad’s implementation of lean manufacturing helps contribute to the long-term prosperity of Oregon’s economy and its citizens.

“It is important for me to put into perspective just how important our custom programs are,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Paul Scarpelli. “All Triad Speaker products -- except our InCeiling OmniRound series -- are built to order in our Portland, OR factory, at a time when nearly all other loudspeaker companies in our channel are getting containers of speakers from China. Our dealers have special needs - orders come in for different custom colors, custom and standard veneer finishes, and custom-engineered enclosure sizes and shapes. We have to manufacture one piece at a time and that means proudly doing it in the United States. No other loudspeaker manufacturer can do it, nor do they want to, because it’s too hard! Yet, we do it as efficiently as possible and still remain price competitive!”

”Laughlin’s background and accomplishments with Triad make him ideal to lead this new division. Laughlin started with Triad in 1995 as a CNC Operator and slowly began making minor modifications to the product line, which led to him designing standard products that still stand strong in Triad’s product lineup today,” says Pexton.

Laughlin’s credits include designing the company’s lauded new InWall Gold/6 LCR loudspeaker; leading the development of the new InWall grill / frame redesign projects and the popular selling InCeiling OmniRound series; designing and programming numerous custom
enclosures; specifying new machinery for Manufacturing such as the CNC machines, as well as being involved in continuous improvement by practicing the principles of lean manufacturing.

For all press inquiries, please contact Paul Muto at 516.662.5374 or email paul@mutocomm.com

About Triad Speakers, Inc.
Established in 1982 by President Larry Pexton (a founding member of CEDIA), Triad is a steadily growing provider of complete loudspeaker solutions for multi-room residential and home theater system applications. A top choice by more than 450 CEDIA custom integrators nationwide, the company has made significant advancements in the arena of front-channel speakers, surrounds, subwoofers, distributed audio speakers via enclosed in-wall and in-ceiling and freestanding designs.

Triad defined itself in 1992 as a provider of “unique architectural audio/video solutions through innovative design and manufacturing.” That mission is unchanged in 2007. The company has explicitly studied and modeled the Toyota Production System to implement its mission. The latest improvement is offering, at no extra charge, custom paint match of the grill frames and inserts in its US manufactured products. Over 90% of Triad’s products are manufactured daily in Portland Oregon, in a pure build to order operation with no work in progress and no finished goods inventory of the US built products. The company uses the finest materials, including premium MDF, drivers from the finest vendors in Northern Europe, high-grade crossover components, and the best veneer and paint finishes and grills.

Voted Best Custom Installation Company in 2006 and 2007
In the 2007 Inside Track Annual Supplier Loyalty Test, Triad achieved first place in its group of
16 custom installation companies in 13 of 16 parameters. Triad ranked first in product performance, product reliability, distribution policies that support specialists, obtainable product margins, tech support, resolution of service, return and repair issues, quality of sales representatives, ease of installation / use; ease-of-doing-business; product changes / price protection, appropriate assortment; just-in-time delivery and specialist oriented business programs. The company placed second in product innovation; sixth in dealer training and eighth in brand recognition. 2007 is the second consecutive year that Triad ranked as Best Custom Installation Company.